First Porsche discovered

The first vehicle made by Ferdinand Porsche has been recovered from an old shed in the car marker’s homeland where it has sat untouched since 1902. The electric Egger-Lohner C.2 Phaeton – known as the P1 – produced little more than 2kW in normal running but could edge 3.5kW for short periods in overdrive. A 12-speed control unit regulated the speed, which peaked at 33kph and had a range of 80km. Despite now producing the electric Spyder, which accelerates from 0-100kph in seven seconds, the marque hasn’t forgotten its roots and will display the vehicle at the Porsche Museum in Germany. The P1 was designed in 1898 when Porsche was 22. Mounted on a wooden chassis, the vehicle body was adaptable to transform into either a coupe or open phaeton. He first took it to the streets of Vienna in 1898. He also used it to compete in an electric-vehicle rally in 1899. The course was relatively gruelling and more than half of the participants failed to finish due to technical difficulties. But the P1 was victorious and crossed the finished 18 minutes ahead of its nearest rival. The Porsche Museum has acquired the P1. Its display area covers 5,600 square metres and features about 80 exhibits, many rare cars and a variety of historical models.